Sylvia Else wrote:
On 6/08/2012 2:50 PM, Alan Erskine wrote:
Why didn't they just use bigger parachutes? Use the supersonic
'chute to slow the vehicle down and then two or more large 'chutes
for final descent.

The ground-level density of the Martian atmosphere is about 1/50
that of air on Earth. So a parachute (if it could be made no more
massive itself) would have to be 50 times greater in area than an
Earth parachute to achieve the same descent velocity. It's hardly
practical.

Does the difference in gravitational pull between Earth and Mars come
into play as well?

rick jones
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